The Veteran's service-connected right knee instability, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, and DJD of the right knee are all granted with specific ratings. Service connection for bilateral foot disabilities is also granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports the restoration of the initial rating for instability of the right knee and the granting of separate ratings for other service-connected conditions based on their respective manifestations and limitations.
- Claimed conditions
- Patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, Meniscal tear of the left knee, Degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the right knee, Instability of the right knee, Bilateral foot disabilities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19172465
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19172465.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 13, 2019.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral foot, and right thumb disabilities prior to certain dates but granted a 40% rating for his lumbar spine disability effective October 29, 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to a lack of adequate medical evidence regarding the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's right knee disabilities from February 2015 to the present.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS), and fibromyalgia. The initial disability ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and migraine headaches were also denied. Some claims related to other disabilities were remanded.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.